The Threat Remains

The world enjoyed much peace once Lord Magnus' hordes had been defeated but few knew who to thank. The Scarlet Witch and her friends thought it best to remain heroes in obscurity and went about their separate ways, but before they parted they formed a bond meant to last to the end of their days. At a parting feast on La Gambit, they drunk from the same cup and swore always to seek each other when they were most needed. That night they became the Brotherhood: a fellowship devoted to remaining acquaintances no matter what the circumstances. Even as La Gambit reached the shores of Unista and members of the newly-formed Brotherhood went their separate ways, they would never forget what brought them together and reasons why their team would remain.

Toad and the remaining Hopperas of his tribe went back to the jungle to rebuild their home, and Princess Felicity went with them. There was nothing left of her people in Laskan, so she had no reason to return there. Sky Fire stayed with Captain Remington and his crew, and although she took on the role as the cook, Clarice kept her former cabin girl duties. Sir Lancelot took the Scarlet Witch west with him to see his homeland, and Quicksilver went along for lack of anything better to do.


Adjusting to his new way of life was not easy for Quicksilver. Sir Lancelot lived in the Eternal Garden where Mother Earth grew creations big and small, and such a vast garden required constant care. Lancelot was used to the work and Scarlet adjusted easily enough, but Quicksilver found it distasteful to waste his talents sowing and reaping vegetables. Even the miracle of watching children sprout from a cabbage patch didn't encourage him to see the good he was doing, and he quickly became restless. During times when he was supposed to be working the fields, he disappeared to practice an iron-working hobby he had picked up after his father's defeat. Making doll-sized, metallic sculptures soothed a pain in his heart that he had felt since Lord Magnus was imprisoned. He kept his workshop well hidden from the others in the mountains near the garden, and it wasn't long before he spent more of his time there than he did with his sister and her love.

Along with the pain in his heart, Quicksilver began experiencing dreams that left him feeling sorrowful. Each night he would see memories of the time alone he spent with his father, back when he was a child. Lord Magnus used to take him on trips to the battlefields back when the Army of Magnus needed days to vanquish a kingdom. He also used to consult his son on some of his creations; the addition of the endless chains and Gorgon Breath to Mekan Ikull's inner workings were both Quicksilver's young ideas. As time passed, a strange bitterness overcame Magnus and he grew more and more distant to his last, loyal offspring. Quicksilver saw all of this progression in his dreams, then one night he had a vision that had never come to him before.

Darkness surrounded him, but Quicksilver could feel the ground beneath his feet. In the distance, a voice called out to him that sent chills up his spine. "My son..."

"Father?" Desperately he moved forward, but no matter how fast he ran, the man could not reach the source of his father's call. "Father, where are you? Hold still and I'll come get you!"

"My son," the voice called again, this time from another direction. Quicksilver turned and started towards it, but the darkness wouldn't yield for him.

"Please, father, tell me where you are," he cried out, then the voice spoke again, loud enough for its source to be considered nearby.

"I am here," it stated, and the man looked down at the amulet he wore. Its runic designs took on the shape of Lord Magnus' unmasked face, then the image smiled sincerely as Quicksilver lifted it to his eye level.

"Father..." Tears of sorrow streamed from Quicksilver's eyes. "Why does it have to be this way?"

"It doesn't," Lord Magnus replied. "You have reached through your yearning and sought access to me. Do you truly wish my freedom?"

"Yes, but--" Quicksilver shook his head and looked away from the image, afraid to say what was on his mind.

"But, what?" His father's voice remained calm and reassuring; he wanted to know what was keeping his son weak.

"We can't go back to our former lifestyle, father! We can't make attempts to destroy the world!" Quicksilver looked back at the amulet, seeing Lord Magnus even through his tears. "I want us to be a family again, but not at the world's expense."

A transparent image of the lord took form behind Quicksilver and brought one of its hands to rest on his left shoulder. "My son," Magnus said in a gentle tone, "why put a world between us? Why distance yourself from the only family who sees that you have value?"

"Because--" Quicksilver choked and wiped the tears from his face. "It's not right. What we did, wasn't right..."

"And they have told you that, haven't they?" Magnus sighed sadly and his image began to fade. When his son realized this, he clutched the amulet tightly and pleaded with it.

"No, father! Don't leave me again!"

"I have never left you, my son." Lord Magnus' image dissipated and the face on the amulet turned back into runic markings. "When you are ready, I will be here for you to receive once again."


Just as Quicksilver had his dream, the Scarlet Witch had a nightmare that stirred her from her rest. As she swung her legs over to sit on the edge of her bed, her ears picked up on the sound of sobbing down the hall and she went to see who it was. Her curiosity heightened when she realized the sound originated from her brother's room. When she saw the condition he was in, Scarlet rushed to see about him. With his face in his hands, Quicksilver sat on the edge of his bed and cried over the dream he had just experienced. His sister didn't know what had upset him but she was going to provide him comfort; unfortunately, he didn't want the comfort to come from her. As soon as she placed an arm on his shoulders to hug him, Quicksilver shoved her aside and turned so his back was to her and the room's entrance.

Confused, Scarlet stayed where she had been shoved and clutched the top of her cotton robe. "Quicksilver? What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," her brother replied with an embittered tone.

"You were crying. I heard you all the way in my room."

"Is it wrong for a man to cry?" Quicksilver focused a glare on his sister, then curled up in bed and threw his covers over himself. "I'm fine, Scarlet. Go back to your new family. Enjoy the love they give you."

There was a time when the Scarlet Witch would have thrown biting words back at her brother for such a comment; that time was long gone. Scarlet knew that Quicksilver was having trouble adjusting to life and not just because of menial tasks. A reality he had settled into for more than twenty years was shattered the day they had to face Lord Magnus in combat and it would take time for him to accept the way things really were. Sighing, Scarlet made her way for the room's exit, then as she put her hand on the doorknob, she turned and spoke to him. "We're still a family, Quicksilver. We always will be. You don't have to like the others, but please don't close yourself to me." After waiting for a response and receiving none, she left the room and closed the door behind her.


Days passed, and the emotional distance between Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch grew by inches. Then, the witch received a message that she hoped would lift both their spirits. The Order of the Sacred Letter learned about their involvement in Lord Magnus' defeat and wanted to throw a banquet in their honor. The message stated that other members of the Brotherhood would also receive invitations, and gave a date and address for when and where the banquet would be held. It came as great surprise that the Order of the Sacred Letter resided just north of Bavil, but Scarlet enjoyed the idea of visiting the town where she began her great victory. The news hardly stirred Quicksilver and although he was grateful for the chance to see civilization again, his lasting depression kept him from expressing this in a way his sister would have liked to see.


The Order of the Sacred Letter was a high class guild that made a practice of taking in middle or low class individuals and making heroes out of them. Not just any individual could join; all its members were known to have some magic talent or physical skill that made them rare in their homelands. Professor Charles Xavier, the founder of the order, sought each of them out and made an offer for a change in lifestyle that all its members came to accept. The guild started out doing charitable crusades but as time passed and its membership increased, a cloud of bitterness settled over it. Members grew tired of saving lives for little gratitude and soon the Order of the Sacred Letter shut its doors to pleas that weren't accompanied by tribute. On top of that, members of the order began to think themselves higher than anyone else, especially those without special or useful powers. This act saddened the order's founder, but he patiently bided his time, knowing that some day something would happen to humble the hearts of his charges once more.

On the day of the banquet, the Brotherhood met at the Seraph Inn of Bavil and traveled together to the institute where the Order of the Sacred Letter took up residency. Members of the order were waiting for them in the foyer of their mansion which had been given a ballroom setting for the occasion. A small orchestra played soothing music from a corner of the foyer while servers walked around with trays of hors d'oeuvres and wine. Groups of Sacred Letter members stood around, exchanging skeptical banter about the would-be heroes who they felt had done their job. If it weren't for the Professor's strong encouragement of this banquet, they wouldn't have even bothered to look the Brotherhood's way after hearing about them.

"I can't believe we're doing this," one woman commented indignantly. "Inviting them into our home? Letting them eat our food? And now, offering a place in our ranks?"

"The Professor thinks it's a good idea, so we have to be for it as well," a man replied. "Besides. It'll make us look even better if we let them join us. Then the credit for the world's freedom will belong to the Order of the Sacred Letter."

As the party continued, a doorman called for silence from the orchestra and brought everyone's attention to the mansion's entrance. "Ladies and gentleman, our guests have arrived," he announced, then stood aside so the door could be opened. "Allow me to introduce: the Scarlet Witch and Sir Lancelot Alvers..."

A smile grew on the faces of many women as they watched the knight enter in a suit of lighter, more casual armor, then they frowned as the witch came in on his arm wearing her usual outfit of pants, boots and maroon vest. "How uncultured," some whispered; thankfully, their words went unheard.

"...the Count, Quicksilver..."

Once again the women smiled as the man entered wearing grey leggings and a turquoise robe with gold trim and a high collar. His black boots were polished to perfection and he took a moment to check his reflection in them before continuing into the foyer.

"...Princess Felicity and.. Toad..."

The Princess sauntered in dragging Toad by his vest and neither one was dressed appropriately for the occasion. Wearing only a satin loincloth and brasier left Felicity highly exposed to silent scrutiny from the audience, and the Hoppera's dusty cargo pants and muddy boots left undesired tracks as he wandered in.

"...Sky Fire and Captain Remington LeBeau..."

The dragonrider also saw fit to wear only a loincloth and her usual vest, and although several of the cultured women in the order visibly disapproved, Sky Fire came in with pride holding tight to the arm of the Captain. Remington looked dashing as ever in his full coat and Captain's hat, but his being a pirate preceded him, and the men of the order let him know that with disdainful looks.

"...and finally, Clarice, Colossus, Atrophy and.. the Blob."

The four members of Remington's crew sparked an array of loud whispers from the audience, for they all looked just as ragged as they did on a normal day at sea. The cabin girl had tried to make herself look slightly decent, but with few articles of ladies' clothing on La Gambit, the closest she could come made her look like a boyish serf. Colossus put on more than his normal pair of pants, but the shirt he wore was sleeveless and bulged too easily in revealing his chiseled frame. Blob and Atrophy didn't bother to change, knowing that nothing they did could make them look appealing to other people.

An unwelcome feeling wafted over the Brotherhood as they stood together and watched the Order of the Sacred Letter judge them in various ways. It was a tense period that made Scarlet start to regret agreeing to the event, but then a feeling of calm washed over everyone as an aged, masculine voice echoed in their minds.

"Welcome, all of you." From the center of the foyer to the archway of a hall, the crowd parted to reveal a man in a wooden wheelchair. A grey blanket covered his legs neatly and on his torso he wore a dark brown suit jacket with a white shirt and black cummerbund. Behind his chair, there stood a dark-skinned woman with stark white hair that flowed well beyond her shoulders. The woman pushed the chair forward and guided it to the Brotherhood, then the man seated in it offered a hand in greeting to his guests. "It is good to finally get a chance to meet you. I am Professor Charles Xavier, founder of this institute."

Sir Lancelot was the first to accept the hand, doing so with a smile of sincerity. "Your invitation came as a surprise, Professor, but a well-received one. Tell me, how did you learn of our existence and deed?" He felt a nudge from Scarlet, sighed, then restated his sentence. "How'd you know who we are and what we did?"

"I have my ways," Xavier stated, though his lips didn't move. After motioning to his hairless head, he spoke aloud. "Reading minds is what I do. After I sensed the absence of Lord Magnus' presence in our dimension, I searched for a reason, and came upon memories of your deed in your collective minds."

"Captain Billiard can read thoughts," Toad blurted out, spawning some disgusted looks from members of the order. "Hey! Hey! What am I thinkin' right now, eh?"

The Professor smirked in quiet amusement. "Things that shouldn't be said in public," he replied, sparking cackles from the amphibious boy.

"Yeah, that's me, all right," Toad said as he exchanged high-fives with Atrophy.

"So you read our minds," Quicksilver said in a haughty tone. "Good for you. Now what do you want?"

Scarlet shook her head at her brother's attitude. "Don't be rude, Quicksilver. We're their guests."

"It's quite all right," Xavier stated. "I understand your apprehension in this situation; after all, receiving invitations from a previously unheard-of source is a rare and unsettling occurrence for most." He settled his hands in his lap and looked the Brotherhood over. "You did the world a service by relieving it of Lord Magnus' presence. Had we the opportunity, the Order of the Sacred Letter would have tried to do the same."

"Doubtful," Quicksilver said with a chuff. "Your name wasn't 'written in the stars' as Lord Magnus' conquerors."

The Professor quietly focused his attention on Quicksilver for a few moments. "Ah yes, Quicksilver. You were Lord Magnus' son, correct?"

"I am Lord Magnus' son," the man stated, focusing a bitter expression on Xavier. "And Scarlet is his daughter. Even if she hates to admit it."

"Indeed. Well, it is a very intriguing prospect that his own offspring would--"

"Save it," Quicksilver snapped. "I didn't accept your stupid invitation just to hear some half-assed eulogy about my father. You people are supposed to be having some banquet for the so-called heroes who got rid of him? Well then, by all means. Have your banquet; I'll be waiting outside for you guys when it's done." Nothing more could be said to him as he left the mansion in the blink of an eye.

A moment of uneasy silence settled over the foyer after Quicksilver left. Then, Professor Xavier mentally signaled for the orchestra to play something cheerful, and he spoke to everyone present. "Please. Enjoy yourselves. Mingle amongst my people. When dinner is ready, we will all convene in the dining hall."

The Professor's assistant turned his chair to guide him away but before they left, Scarlet stepped up to speak to him. "I'm sorry about Quicksilver, Professor. He's--"

"There's no need to apologize, Scarlet," Xavier replied. "Learning one's father is the root of all misery, then having to have a hand in his defeat is not something I wager anyone would want to go through. At least not anyone who had a relationship with their father as I suspect your brother has."

Scarlet sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Yeah. One I didn't have."

"Which is a good thing, because if you had, think of how difficult your fulfilling the prophecy would have been." The Professor smiled. "Now. Relax, and enjoy yourself. This night is for you and your friends." He motioned to the rest of the foyer, where the Brotherhood had scattered themselves amongst members of the Sacred Letter. "They have already begun to mingle, perhaps it is time you did the same." Nodding his head signaled for his assistant to continue pushing him away. "I must see to dinner."


For most of the Brotherhood, mingling with the Order of the Sacred Letter was like trekking through a field of briars. The conversing groups stayed tightly knit and when one of the indecent members of the Brotherhood tried to join in, they were quickly given the cold shoulder. Captain Remington found little trouble working his way into conversations with the women but whenever he became too comfortable, Sky Fire would happily usher him to another section of the room. Eventually, all of the Brotherhood ended up in a corner of the foyer, talking amongst themselves instead of their "gracious" hosts.

"What kinda sewing circle is this that we can't get a word in edge-wise, huh," Toad said as he glared at the gathering. "This is supposed to be our party, but these high brows won't let us enjoy it!"

"Buncha fancy-dressin' no-goods with sticks up their asses if you ask me," Sky Fire added.

"More like the whole tree. What is their problem, anyway? They're the ones who invited us!"

"Maybe we're not what they expected," Clarice suggested. "I guess if we tried to look better..."

"It shouldn't matter what we look like," Scarlet stated quickly. "We did a good deed; they claim to be honoring us for it. But instead of honoring us, they're treating us like outcasts."

"Per'aps we should have gone de way of Quicksilver, neh," Remington suggested.

"Maybe..." The Scarlet Witch straightened her posture as she noticed a group of people coming their way. "Oh look. They're making an attempt to approach the rare specimens."

A man wearing round-lense, ruby-colored spectacles stepped towards the Brotherhood with a woman on his arm whose hair was fiery in color. With them came a young lady whose brown hair bounced with life in every move she made, and a young man whose blonde hair was a complete contrast to his brown skin. "Forgive us for not speaking to you earlier," the first man said, "but we were tending to other matters."

"We know the others like to make our order seem exclusive," the woman on his arm stated, "but that just makes it up to us to extend the hand of friendship. So, allow me to introduce us. I am Jean Grey. You may call me Lady Grey; all my friends do." She chuckled as she held out her hand, expecting it to be accepted. When none of the Brotherhood made a reach for it, Lady Grey cleared her throat and continued her introductions. "This is Scott Summers, often referred to as Cyclops."

"Why, he got one eye behind those glasses," Toad asked with a hint of amusement.

"No," Summers replied, "but many have thought that when I use my special ability."

"Whoop-de-damn-do." Toad twirled one of his fingers in the air, then tugged on Atrophy. "I'm starvin'. Come on, let's go get some whore's endeavors!" The two broke away from the group and chased down one of the tray-bearing servants.

Scott watched them leave with a puzzled expression. "Whore's endeavors?"

"Hors d'oeuvres," Scarlet noted, then motioned to Jean Grey. "Please. Continue with your introduction."

"Very well," the woman replied, then stood aside so the young lady could be seen. "This is Kitty Pryde, who we often call Shadowcat."

"It is, like, such a total pleasure to meet you," Kitty said in a cheerful giggle, causing some members of the Brotherhood to visibly shudder.

"And finally," Jean continued, "this is Evan Daniels, also known as Spyke."

"What's up," Evan said as he stepped forward. "So you're the guys who thrashed Lord Magnus? That is so awesome!"

The Brotherhood exchanged glances with one-another. "Okay, they got people in here who talk like that, and we're gettin' ostracized," Sky Fire asked rhetorically, then turned towards the entrance. "That's it, I'm outta here. Come on, Remy. We can go someplace else to be insulted."

"Saint John won' be as disappointed for havin' t'attend a guild meetin' and miss dis," the Captain commented as he turned to follow her. "Let's move out, crew!"

Gradually, all of the Brotherhood turned and started for the mansion's entrance. "Wait, was it something I said," Evan Daniels wondered aloud, then everything stopped as Professor Xavier's voice filled everyone's head once again.

"Dinner is ready. Please, everyone assemble in the dining hall."

The orchestra stopped playing and gathered their things so they could continue their performance in the dining hall. Members of the Sacred Letter dispersed, and the Brotherhood stood near the entrance exchanging pensive glances. "Should we even bother," Atrophy asked.

"It is goin' t'be a long ride back to de port," Captain Remington noted. "Maybe we should grab somethin' t'eat beforehand."

Sir Lancelot added, "And they did invite us. We should stay, at least for Professor Xavier's sake. It seems to me that he's the one who most wants us here."

The Scarlet Witch sighed as she turned back to the foyer. "Well, I am hungry," she muttered begrudgingly. "Fine. We'll grab some food, but if they give us anymore of what they've been, we're gone." Her brows furrowed as she looked towards the entrance. "Maybe I should tell Quicksilver that we're going to be a while longer."

Lancelot noticed her concern, then put a hand on her shoulder to guide her away from the doors. "Go. Eat. I'll go let your brother know of our staying." He thought for a moment, then stated, "I'll tell Quicksilver to wait some more." The knight sighed as he left her behind; trying to disregard his noble way of speaking subconsciously made his mouth hurt.


The Brotherhood joined the Order of the Sacred Letter in their dining room; meanwhile, Sir Lancelot wandered the institute's front yard in search of Quicksilver. He found the man sitting on the side of a large fountain that faced the mansion's main gates, surrounded by the cobblestone driveway where their carriages had been parked during their arrival. Quicksilver was clutching the dark amulet that held his father and it looked as though he were talking to it; unfortunately, Lancelot was at too much of a distance to hear what was being said.

"Quicksilver, are you faring well," the knight asked as he made the approach. Quicksilver tucked the amulet underneath his robe before turning an unsavory look on him.

"What do you want, Lance?"

"Your sister sent me to tell you that we'd be staying for dinner," Lancelot replied, then stood close to him. "You should join us. I'm sure she'd like that."

Quicksilver chuffed at his words. "Scarlet's that disgusted with me that she couldn't come out here herself?" He shook his head bitterly. "If she liked the idea so much, she could have come out here and told me so. I'm not hungry, and I don't feel like mingling with those false friends. You think I didn't take a peek and see how they were blackballing you and the others? Thanks but no thanks."

"I came because I didn't want your sister to have to stand through one of your tantrums," Lancelot said as his expression soured. "You're pouring an unnecessary guilt trip on her as if she should be sorry that she stopped your father from killing the populace. What you should be doing is showing some gratitude for her lasting love in your favor. If she did not think so highly of you, not only would you not be here, but your worthless father would be no more than an ill wind on an otherwise blissful day." He snorted, then turned back for the mansion doors. "I suggest you start behaving like a real brother and show your sister the support she deserves, unless you'd prefer to wander the earth miserable and alone."

A very stone-cold glare settled on Quicksilver's face as he listened to Sir Lancelot talk, and his right hand clenched tightly into a fist. When the knight turned his back on him, a blue glow developed in Quicksilver's eyes and his teeth clenched in a horrendous sneer. Just as Lancelot finished talking, Quicksilver lifted his right hand and made a jerking motion as if to grab hold of something and pull it his way. The knight almost choked as the back of his armor was pulled on by nothing, then he slid backwards on his heels until he was in front of the silver-haired man once again. Lancelot was in complete shock as he stared into Quicksilver's glowing eyes and was shoved to his knees without being touched.

"How dare you speak to me as though I were some addlepated child," the man stated in a grim tone as he loomed over the knight. "My discontent is none of her or your concern. And, as far as my sister's actions go, in due time she will get all that she deserves from me. If anyone should show some semblance of gratitude it's you for my presence that day. If it weren't for my distraction, time would have been the only thing separating the two of you from death." Suddenly, a scream arose from the mansion and was accompanied by a mechanical wail. Quicksilver recognized that wail and decided to investigate its source; as he turned to head inside, he waved his right hand and Sir Lancelot was lightly pitched into the fountain nearby.


A surprise guest visited the banquet hosted by the Order of the Sacred Letter and it didn't receive a warm welcome. An iron dragon the size of a puma managed to sneak in and start sniffing about, then when it was spotted it created quite an uproar in the order members. Startled by their screams, the creature ran about and wrecked the dining hall without really meaning to. Members of the order put on a grand power display in their efforts to stop it: Scott lifted his glasses from his eyes and let a beam of energy fire at it; Jean tried using her mental powers to stop it, but the creature seemed immune; Kitty phased just as the dragon tumbled into her; and Evan shot a series of bone spears to try and trap the dragon, but it pulled enough out of the ground to free itself and even carted one off to chew on while it walked around. Others made efforts, but they were all denied. In seeing what the Order of the Sacred Letter could do, the Brotherhood decided to stand aside and watch rather than try to help wrangle the beast.

"MICRO IKULL!" The booming words came from Quicksilver, who stood in the entryway of the dining hall. His eyes no longer had their bluish glow but his face remained stern as he looked in the direction of his rogue invention. Along with iron dolls, Micro Ikull was something he had put together in his spare time. If not for his speed, it would have taken him years to assemble it and give it life. It became clear to the others that the creature belonged to him when it humbled itself upon hearing its name, then the attacks at the hands of the Sacred Letter ceased.

"Micro, I told you not to follow me," Quicksilver said as he motioned for his pet to approach him. When the dragon came close, he grabbed it by its web-shaped crest and gave its head a shake. "Crazy creature. Now look what you've done." The conversation seemed like a casual exchange between master and pet, but the Order of the Sacred Letter was hardly amused.

"That thing just ruined our banquet," Scott Summers bellowed as he stepped towards Quicksilver.

"I'd say the banquet was ruined long before Micro Ikull got here," the man shot back. "Besides. If you guys hadn't startled him, he wouldn't have rampaged." He rubbed the dragon's ridged snout affectionately. "He's really just a playful little wyrm, aren't you, Micro?"

The Scarlet Witch couldn't believe what she was seeing. Although its size and crest were different, Micro Ikull was the spitting image of the murderous Mekan Ikull--the creature she faced not too long ago. Granted, Micro Ikull moved with a more playful gait, and once things calmed down, it did seem less threatening than its predecessor. Still, its very existence brought an ill feeling in Scarlet. Her stomach tied itself in knots as she watched her brother and Professor Xavier carry a light conversation over Micro Ikull's construction, then she wandered forward and interrupted them. "You made that, Quicksilver?"

Her brother looked at her quietly for a while, then replied, "Yeah? And?"

Scarlet shook her head at him. "But why? How?"

"Because I could?" Quicksilver knelt down beside his invention and began checking its frame for blemishes. "His design I already knew by heart; putting a spirit in him was the real trick. I used one of those noisy cabbage patch kids from the Eternal Garden."

"You did what," Scarlet cried out in shock. "Quicksilver, you took a life to create that thing?"

"This thing, as you so coldly put it, and that life are now one." Her brother stood up and brought his hand to rest on Micro Ikull's head. "Of course, having an infant soul makes Micro Ikull very childish and disobedient, but he'll learn eventually." He clasped his arms behind his back and turned to leave. "Enjoy what's left of your evening, sis. I'll be at the Seraph Inn."

Everyone watched as Quicksilver left with Micro Ikull following close behind, then were surprised by Sir Lancelot's dripping wet entry to the dining hall. After getting over the shock of being overpowered by Quicksilver, the knight managed to drag himself back to the mansion to rejoin whatever was going on inside. He stepped aside quite briskly to avoid running into the silver-haired man, then stumbled into the dining hall and found his way to Scarlet.

"Lance, what happened to you," the witch asked as she looked him over.

The knight took a moment to breathe before speaking. "Scarlet, your brother..."

"My brother did what?"

"Something is happening to him," Lancelot said as he ushered her off to a quiet corner where they could talk. "He... he threw me... But he didn't touch me! When he did that... I..." He fished for words to describe the incident. "When Lord Magnus hefted me into the air... well... he wasn't really holding me. He was holding my armor. That's what it felt like when Quicksilver tossed me just now! The back of my suit felt like a heavy hand had gripped it when he pulled me towards him, then I felt two hands grab me by my breast plate and throw me in the fountain!"

Scarlet listened to what he had to say but found it hard to believe his words. She knew her brother didn't have power over metal like her father did, and what little control he had over the wind could only be used to shove something away from him. "Are you sure it was him? They've got a lot of people here with strange powers..."

"It was him, all right. When I came out there, he was talking to the amulet you trapped your father in." Lancelot sighed as he rung out a clump of his hair. "Scarlet, you may need to remove that amulet from Quicksilver's neck. It's possible that Lord Magnus' power could be bleeding out of it and into him. If so, he could become as corrupted as your father was, and with his speed, do far more damage in far less time."

Once again that sinking feeling came over the Scarlet Witch and she had to back away from the conversation to quell her stomach. Something was about to happen that she knew she wouldn't like, and it still had to do with her father. She wondered how he could be plaguing her even after being imprisoned in a talisman that she thought would hold him for a good, long time. If the talisman wasn't holding Lord Magnus, then she would have no choice but to destroy it and him, despite how her brother would feel about the situation. As the decision settled in her mind, Scarlet looked up and found the rest of the Brotherhood already surrounding her.

"Party's dead," Captain Remington noted. "I t'ink we've worn out our welcome, neh?"

"More like Quicksilver did with that miniature Mekan Ikull of his," Sky Fire added. "So what's the verdict, Scar? Are we out of here?"

"Yeah, let's go," Scarlet replied, then linked her left arm around Lancelot's waist. With his right arm draped over her shoulders, the two lead the procession of the Brotherhood on their way out of the mansion. They left their hosts to clean up the mess that had been made, and though members of the order wanted to protest, Professor Xavier allowed the Brotherhood to leave without incident. He sensed the distress felt by the Scarlet Witch and knew that asking her and her friends to stay for anything more would have been a bad idea. His offer would have to wait until another occasion under better circumstances.


The Sisterhood of the East had become quite comfortable in their new home, stolen from the Astral Archers who had obtained it as payment by Quicksilver. After doing a bit of magical redecorating to make the Asterum Spire more to their liking, the sorceresses took to foraging through Lord Magnus' records for whatever they could use to increase their guild's power. Mystique held her own private expedition in the throne room where, years ago, she had detected two immense sources of power going virtually unused. The sensation came from underneath the cone-shaped pedestal that held Lord Magnus' throne, and Mystique threw everything she had at it to try and break it open; the pedestal was as sturdy as it looked. For days she sent wave after wave of magic at it, stopping only to rest and recharge, but even weeks of progress provided only a small hole in the pedestal's hard exterior. Whatever spell Lord Magnus had cast on it held the pedestal together like strong cement.

After releasing her final energy blast for that day, Mystique collapsed to one knee and seethed at the object that tormented her so much. Sabretooth was still dangling from the ceiling and despite his constant pain, found breath to express his amusement at her plight. Mystique responded to his wheezing laughter with a growl, but didn't bother to strain herself by trying to cause him more pain. As she continued to rest, the Rogue entered the throne room and approached her with a tray of food.

"You've been tryin' at that throne for weeks now, Mystique," her apprentice said as she stopped near her. "Maybe you should give it a rest for a while. We could probably find some sort of spell to loosen it in Magnus' library."

The sorceress sighed wearily as she conjured up a plush chair and pulled herself into it. "Perhaps," she muttered, then took the tray from her student. "I don't know why I didn't think of that earlier. I'm being too eager to have that pedestal removed." Her expression lifted as the aroma of her food hit her along with the thought of all the power that would soon be hers. "With Lord Magnus no longer looming overhead, I have all the time in the world to divide his power amongst us."

Rogue smirked at her mentor's avarice. "All this power will be pretty nice to have, but what're we gonna do with it once it's ours?"

"Rule the world, of course," Mystique said in a chuckle. "Also, we'll go about it a little swifter than Lord Magnus. He always seemed so hesitant to conquer. Some days I wondered if he really had the heart for world domination."

Their conversation was halted by a sinking feeling they felt simultaneously and a strange sound that built up in the distance. As it grew louder, the sound became recognized as something similar to glass shattering. But, when they looked out the high-set windows of the throne room, they saw what it really was. The large force field that the Sisterhood of the East surrounded Asterum with was breaking; its pieces separated from each other and dissipated during their tumble to the ground below. Such a shield created by the experienced sorceresses should not have been broken so easily or its tamper gone without notice, but somehow it had happened.

Mystique banished her food and seat as she started for the doors of the throne room, then cries from familiar voices stopped her in her tracks. Down the hall, she could hear her sorceresses fighting a losing battle with someone who had infiltrated their new stronghold. Unseen magic shook the Asterum Spire as it missed its target and struck the walls, then bone-crunching echoes accompanied cries of death that sounded out as the battle ended. The Rogue positioned herself to defend her weakened mentor from whatever was approaching, but Mystique pushed her aside, knowing that her charge would do little good against whatever had just slaughtered her guild.

A rush of wind shoved the doors of the throne room open and Quicksilver entered dragging one of the remaining sorceresses by her hair. The battered woman clawed furiously at his hand, but the blood that already stained it kept her nails from getting a sufficient grip. As he came far enough into the room, the man waved his free hand backwards and the doors of the throne room secured themselves shut. Then, he threw the woman with such force that she tumbled the length of the floor that separated him and Mystique.

The sorceress scowled at the intrusion, and her apprentice stared unknowingly at the stone-faced man that stood across from them. "Quicksilver, what the Hell are you doin'," the Rogue yelled at him.

"That's not Quicksilver," Mystique said as she gripped her staff with both hands. An unsettling smirk that developed on Quicksilver's face confirmed her mystic intuition: Lord Magnus was alive, and he was using his son's body to carry out his will. As sorrow overwhelmed him, Quicksilver gave into his moment of desperation and opened himself to his father's control. The amulet that was magically fixed to his neck had been absorbed into his body, providing the perfect hiding place for Magnus while he sought true freedom.

The smirk on Quicksilver's face faded into a grim expression as he began a slow trek forward. "Thought your treachery would go without reprimand, eh, sorceress? Come now. You should know better than to rely on ever-changing prophecies from that blind soothsayer of yours." His eyes blazed, then a chain shot out of the darkness of the room and wrapped partway around the neck of the sorceress laying at Mystique's feet. As she choked, more chains latched onto her limbs and dragged her off to where she couldn't be seen, but her screams could be heard as she was ripped apart. "I have waited centuries for the right moment to show you why your efforts are futile," the man said as he continued to walk forward. "Now you'll see just what a fool you've been all these years."

Mystique struck the ground with her staff and created a barrier that cut the throne room in half. While Quicksilver approached and examined it, she turned to her apprentice and said, "Get out of here, Rogue! You have to warn someone that Lord Magnus has been revived!"

"But what about you," Rogue asked, unwilling to leave her mentor behind.

"Do as I say, NOW," the sorceress commanded, then turned her attention fully to the threat at hand. With a simple pluck of his fingers, Quicksilver disabled her barrier and continued his approach. She knew it was too weak to hold him, but she had to do something to give her charge time to escape. As the Rogue took off in the form of a bat, Mystique brandished her staff and mentally prepared a spell to use against the man approaching her.

"Powerful forces at my command, send pain and misery from the palm of my hand!" Mystique pulled an orb of energy from the bauble of her staff, then sent a series of green lightning bolts at Quicksilver; all of them were deflected.

"'Send pain and misery from the palm of my hand,'" he repeated in a mocking tone, continuing his slow approach. "I suppose in your weakened state, I can't expect you to make a good rhyme, now can I? Well then. Allow me." Stopping a few yards away from Mystique, Quicksilver made motions with his hands as he recited, "Speed of the body, strength of the brain. Display of true power, display of true PAIN!" Dark energy collected in his hands as he whirled them in front of himself, then he threw out the energy in a series of bolts that each struck the sorceress down. It brought Quicksilver great amusement to watch her smoldering body tumble across the floor and as she started to pick herself up, he rushed next to her and knelt down to get a closer look at her struggle.

"My son's young body has me feeling rather playful, Mystique." As he knelt down, the image of Lord Magnus could almost be seen overlapping Quicksilver's frame. "I could keep up your torture all day, if I didn't have other things to do. My only decision now is over what to do with you." He frowned bitterly while gripping her chin and forcing her to stare into his face. "Do you want to die, Mystique? Do you want me to kill you now and put you out of your misery? I'm afraid you won't be so lucky. In fact, I think I will savor you until I'm better situated. Then, we will see how long it takes to get a proper scream out of th--AGH!" Quicksilver was forced to withdraw his hand as Mystique clawed at it, then the sorceress transformed into a black cat and started to run away; unfortunately, her escape would not be so easy. After rubbing his hand, the man slammed his fist into the floor and a series of curved spikes shot out of the marble in a circular formation around the cat. She shrieked and tried to leap away from the trap, but each spike curled forward to close what little space there would have been for a narrow escape.

Quicksilver's malicious smirk returned once he made his way to the cage that now held Mystique, then he exhaled a purple haze that covered it like a sheet. The spell within the haze would prevent the sorceress from changing form and she knew it; she could feel her magic being suppressed within herself. "That should keep you 'til I see fit to release you," the man stated, then turned and started for his throne. On his way there, he stopped and looked up at the dangling interlock of iron and flesh that was Sabretooth. Quicksilver lingered for a moment as he studied the former General's condition, then with a clench of his fist, he caused the brace that held the beastman's bonds to give way.

The bundle that held Sabretooth fell to the ground and unraveled itself, leaving his mutilated body to lay in a pool of his own blood. He felt nothing but pain as he laid there, but with punctured lungs and loose vocal chords he couldn't properly express it. Eventually his regenerative powers kicked in and his body started knitting itself back together; as soon as he could, Sabretooth let out a roar that echoed throughout the spire and could be heard by creatures off the shore of Asterum. After being forced to hang in mutilation for so long, the relief of pulling himself back together was no different from the pain of being torn apart in the first place. Every bone popping into place--every muscle that shifted to perfect form--every aspect of his body's healing was felt and expressed through a guttural cry. Quicksilver stood stoic throughout the beastman's repair and lament, and only offered him a lasting look of discontent as he clasped his arms behind his back while standing over him.

Sabretooth wallowed onto his side and breathed heavily after his ordeal, but he never took his eyes off his master's new vessel. "Lord Magnus," he rasped between breaths. "You're... alive... and, different..."

"I am... increasingly angered, if that makes a difference," Quicksilver stated in a dangerously calm tone, then turned to pace the floor. "Currently I'm trapped in my son's frame. That spell the Scarlet Witch cast over me is quite strong; it prevents me from reabsorbing my expelled energy, so I weaken every time I make an effort."

The beastman struggled to turn so he could keep an eye on him. "But your energy is emptying itself into your son's body. I can feel it happening!"

"I don't want it to happen," Quicksilver snapped, then looked displeasingly at his minion. "My son is still loyal to me; he proved this by pleading for my life, and accepting my control so that I could reclaim what is rightfully mine." He looked thoughtfully at his body. "I have to free myself from him before I end up consuming his soul. To do that, I will need the Jade Kriss from Talsee's altar room." His expression softened momentarily, then he focused a hard gaze on his minion. "You have expressed a tendency for treachery, Sabretooth. Does that tendency still exist?"

Slowly and unsteadily, Sabretooth rose to his feet but kept his posture humble. "I have... spent much time repenting for that mistake," he admitted. "I suffered, unsurpassed pain... for days... weeks..."

"And you will remember that pain the next time you share your like for disloyalty." Quicksilver turned his attention to the damage that had been done to the pedestal that held the throne. "You will help me retrieve the Jade Kriss," he said as he studied the breach. "You will rejoin my ranks, and you will have no more thoughts of deceiving me. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Lord Magnus..."

"Good." A smirk settled into Quicksilver's expression. "Take your leave, General. Find your beasts and prepare them for a siege. We will take on Talsee as soon as you're ready."

Sabretooth's vigor increased as he regained his former title. Posture poised, he brought his heels together and bowed for his master. "As you wish," he stated, then left to begin his preparations.